Dallas-area residents on both sides of the national health-care issue mobilized Thursday to make their feelings known to lawmakers.

A small group of residents rallied near U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's North Dallas office in support of President Barack Obama's health-care reform that includes a public option to cover 45 million uninsured Americans.

Supporters of a public-option plan also delivered petitions to the local office of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn as part of a national event sponsored by the liberal political action committee MoveOn.org.

Meanwhile, conservative talk-radio hosts were urging listeners to lobby concerns about what's being described as "Obamacare."

At KLIF-AM (570), listeners were directed to the Web site blowoutcongress.com, where each day there's a new senator to e-mail or call.

Thursday's target was Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

A group called the Alliance of Texans Against Government Controlled Healthcare is also lobbying senators against a national health-care plan.

Howard Deihl, one of the founders of the group, said that if a bill does get through Congress, Texas can resist it under provisions in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.

"Even if Obama's plan does pass, Texas can opt out of it," Deihl said.

But many Texans say a government-controlled plan is needed.

Outside Hutchison's Dallas office, fewer than 20 people waved signs to motorists on North Central Expressway.

"We want to bring awareness that this county has got to include a public health-care option," said Larissa Herson, a Denton woman who organized the rally at Hutchison's office.

Herson, an out-of-work tech support specialist, said changing the way health care is delivered in this country had become a personal issue.

"Obama is doing a fabulous job," she said. "But he can't do it all alone."

Cornyn and Hutchison are opposed to a new public health-care plan that includes a public option, but are not expected to be deeply involved in the bipartisan negotiations over legislation.

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